About Us

Thomason Express, L.L.C. originally began in 1980 as a single truck operation in rural Johnson County, Illinois, by Lee Thomason. A young man with a vision, born and raised in Chicago, Lee spent 13 years working for Consolidated Freightways Corp., at that time North America’s largest long haul LTL carrier. He married in 1977 and made a life-changing decision to relocate to Southern Illinois to begin a new life and raise a family.
Lee began the operation with one 1974 International cab-over truck and refrigerated trailer. He purchased his first new power unit, a Freightliner, in 1983. Over the next three years he would acquire six additional units and obtain his own authority as a contract and common carrier in 1986, operating as LRT Enterprises and specializing in refrigerated transportation.
Lee started looking at potential business and growth opportunities sprouting up in Williamson County, Illinois, and renamed the company to Thomason Transportation in 1989. In 1990, with his wife, Sue, and their four young daughters, the family and company moved to Marion, Illinois, hoping to capitalize from the benefit of being centrally located between four main interstate arteries (Interstates 24, 55, 57 and 64). Lee continued a slow but steady growth in the industry, branching out to include dry van and bulk tanker services. A brokerage authority was obtained in 1998.
In 1999, with a fleet of 15 power units and 25 trailers, Lee continued to steer the newly incorporated Thomason Transportation, Inc. with expansion and growth providing excellent service and on-time deliveries to our customers located within the 48 continental states. Due to the sale of the Quaker State/Pennzoil facility in Marion, Illinois, we discontinued our tanker division in 2004.
The company business structure was reorganized in late 2006 and continued operations as Thomason Express, L.L.C. Thomason Express, L.L.C. currently operates a fleet of 100+ late model power units and 250+ 53’, air ride, dry van trailers. We can also provide flat bed and specialized hauling services. In addition, our brokerage division has access to hundreds of contracted carriers to back-up and compliment our own fleet of equipment. Our drivers are DOT qualified, licensed and educated to understand that our service standards reflect the commitments made by us to our customers.
Our staff includes transportation professionals that have years of experience in both transportation and industrial sectors, committed to serving our customers with professionalism, productivity and competitive rates.
Construction of our new business office at our Main Street complex was completed in February 2007. The operation also expanded to include warehousing, transfer and cross-dock capabilities through a new 25,000 square foot facility operated by Marion Warehousing & Storage. Additional expansion projects are under review, including construction of two additional warehouse facilities.
Our commitment to our customers remains our number one priority through our continued success and expansion.
Simply call 800-336-2805 and let us service your transportation and warehousing needs.